Native American & Indigenous Studies
Native American Center

Learn about the Native American and Indigenous Studies program

The Native American and Indigenous Studies program reaffirms "Indigenous Peoples" as the Original Peoples of the land. NAIS centers its coursework on the indigenous experiences of Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians, and First Nations Peoples.

In the NAIS program, we build on the worldviews of indigenous communities and indigenous thought. Additionally, our curriculum is grounded in understanding how historic and contemporary U.S. policies shape and impact tribal sovereignty, governance, and the ability to self-govern. Thirdly, verbal and written communication skills foster an engaging classroom learning environment.

The foundational knowledge and methodologies in the NAIS program give students the skills to engage with and seek future careers in tribal, state, and national levels of government and governance, in the professional fields of education, law, and heritage preservation, as well as a multitude of careers that benefit and are unique to Indigenous communities.

A minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies is available to students majoring in other disciplines.

Learn more about NAIS as a major or minor